PM 'Akilisi Pohiva still not fully recovered from illness Featured
Tonga Prime Minister, 'Akilisi PohivaTonga Prime Minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta
26 February, 2018. Tonga's Prime Minister says he is continuing to take a step back from his duties due to ill health.
Last month 'Akilisi Pohiva began his second term in the local intensive care unit with an unspecified illness.
Mr Pohiva said he had still not recovered and didn't know how long it would take before he will be. In the meantime he said he was resting and trying not to be too involved in the workings of government.
Mr Pohiva explained that he was following doctors' orders.
"They advised me not to be involved, to get away from Tonga for a while and then come back but I can't. I have to have a look at what had happened and our plan for the future," Mr Pohiva explained.
"I do not feel good if I leave the country, but I must make sure that I do not get involved. Let the ministers do the work, let me give direction when there is a need to do so."
Meanwhile, Mr Pohiva told RNZ Pacific that he was confident in Tonga's ability to bounce back from the devastation caused by Cyclone Gita.
The storm earlier this month severely damaged buildings and crops and left many homeless.
The Prime Minister said he had taken a back seat to disaster officials but was happy with the job they were doing, despite some criticism from the public.
Reforms still a priority
Tonga's next parliamentary session is due to start on 5 March and Mr Pohiva said the most pressing need in the house would obviously be post-cyclone recovery.
But the Prime Minister said that once the recovery from Cyclone Gita had been dealt with, he would continue to push for political reform.
In August 2017 King Tupou VI dissolved parliament amid concerns the government was acting unconstitutionally and trying to gather more power for itself.
Mr Pohiva said the cabinet should maintain all executive power and they should not be dictated to by the King's Privy Council.
According to the Prime Minister, he has no choice but to follow the same pathway as his previous administration.
"It is not a matter of choice, it is matter of principle. And I have to do it but in a way that His Majesty does not fear. It could be done. Compromise."
"This is the way for the future," he said. "It's not easy, but I have to deal with it, I have to make sure that, this is my last term, after the four years all these reforms are put in place for the people who have followed me to continue on."
-RNZI
3 comments
-
Please Hon. PM, try and wake up and smell the roses. You are not fit holistically - mentally, physically (and perhaps spiritually) - to stay at the helm. You have been manipulated left, right and center by your so-called advisors who only seemingly cling to you for their own personal gain, money- and power-wise. With all due respect Hon. PM, you cannot lead as you lack any leadership quality at all, in which you had so well demonstrated during your 4 long years as PM of Tonga. It had been so apparent that you are just a rubber stamp while your mostly questionable cabinet ministers and advisors manipulate you from every direction. This is so sad indeed for Tonga, and, sadly, people are somewhat blind, really. Please Dear Hon. PM, bow out now with dignity and enjoy your coffee. You had said it yourself, that you are not well enough to continue at the helm as you had taken a back seat while you leave it to your cabinet to do the work that you are entitled to lead and implement. You had made it publicly your disregard of the rule of law, you really fear and hate the media and so abused media freedom and freedom of expression, and there is no transparency at all nor good governance in your leadership - instead you had embraced nepotism, corruption practices, etc.. You ought to bow out with and in dignity Hon. PM and enjoy the company of your family and loved ones. 'Ofa atu.
-
Paasi atu e Tohitapu kihe Tangataeiki ke mea atu aa moia ki api o malolo. Oua teke tokanga koe kihe Fonua he oku iai pe kakai kuo teu’i ehe Eiki kenau hoko atu e fatongia. Mau e koe ha fiemalie laulau folofola pe mo lotua ho laumalie ke mau kakato a Sisu. Ko hoo kei piki au he fatongia oku ke tauhi aitoli leva koe. Ofa atu Palemia.
-
WHAT ARE THE PM'S CONDITIONS? The people have a right to know what their money is paying for? Is it an pre-existing condition? Was it self-inflicted or is it something contracted while on the job? Whatever it is, the people want to know. They should know whether sickly politicians should bring their pre-existing conditions to Government as a burden to the people. Politicians should be healthy and free of pre-existing conditions that would cost taxpayers tremendous amount of money. Everyone should have a "clean bill of health" from the doctor before they're allowed to run for Parliament.